sets 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of set
1
as in spawns
to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop the hen set for days

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
4
as in sits
chiefly dialect to rest on the buttocks or haunches come over and set for a spell

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
as in aims
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal determined to see the West, she set her car towards the sun and drove off

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6
7
8
9
10

sets

2 of 2

noun

plural of set
1
as in factions
a group of people acting together within a larger group the younger set is less likely to volunteer for the church's annual rummage sale

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
4
5
as in decors
the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production built sets for the play

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sets
Verb
Wegmans also sets itself apart from other traditional grocers in size and experiential store design. — Charlotte Observer, 3 Oct. 2026 But what truly sets the GT apart from the competition is how this volcanic performance is deployed. — New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026 The International Civil Aviation Organization sets baseline pilot-vetting and licensing standards, while national regulators and airlines can impose additional requirements. — Sam Metz, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 That information can then trigger a workflow that assigns the appropriate specialist, sets a deadline, monitors progress and escalates the issue when an exception occurs. — Michael Goshka, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Yes, the life of a college football coach depends on Saturday, but his weekday work sets the table for any weekend success. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026 The measure caps public comment periods, while current law only sets minimum lengths. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Yet multiple members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which sets rates, have previewed their calls on monetary policy. — Max Rego, The Hill, 1 Oct. 2026 Vanicream’s gentleness is what sets it apart from other moisturizers. — Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026
Noun
Carter’s 2-Way Zip Sleep & Play pajamas, priced $18, and Little Character sets, priced $26, are also very popular items. — David Moin, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026 The claustrophobia, which is strong in the book and very strong in the film, comes from using real sets. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026 First, the Commission should make two separate sets of recommendations. — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 When watching the film, the festival sets captured live blend seamlessly with the shots of the crowd, which were captured both live and simulated later in Atlanta. — Miki Hellerbach, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Enterprises have complex software systems that tools need to integrate into, along with their own proprietary data sets. — Dan Faulkner, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026 Dedicated sets of muscles and cartilage power each individual ray, giving every single segment full 360-degree rotational freedom. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026 Two sets of Brooks River behemoths duke it out, including last year’s champion, Bear #32 (Chunk). — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2026 Always research complete sets and pieces with lids before giving them away. — Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets
Verb
  • Molluscum is caused by a virus and spawns the pimple-like bumps.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 10 Aug. 2026
  • But the software wrapped around it reinserts the objective on every turn, stores progress to a file, spawns subagents, retries on failure, and keeps going until a verifier says the task is done.
    — Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Cal chooses to lure Aron to Kate’s, chooses to present Aron to his mother in the middle of the crowded brothel, chooses to hurt both of them in this moment.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Someone chooses the feel that seems right and then lives with that choice, which works well enough until the body or the preference changes.
    — Malana VanTyler, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • But still, the exhibition is the rare chance to view RM as a serious art collector; someone who values Korean identity in art but also loves works from many genres, eras and countries.
    — Christine Terrisse, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The deal values the Caribbean resort chain at $6 billion and is expected to boost growth for both companies, according to CNBC.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The deeply pretty Georgian manor house, all honeyed Bath stone, sits at the end of an avenue of sky-high beech and lime trees, surrounded by exquisite gardens like a Jane Austen film set.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The proposal now sits with Congress, where lawmakers will have to decide whether to take it up.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The second, Stillpoint, aims to release and restore calm with a deep oil-free massage, along with rocking compressions, assisted stretches, and Kansa wand techniques.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The project aims to run AI locally rather than rely entirely on cloud services, with Ajax intended to handle tasks such as web searches, browsing, email, calendars, and other daily activities.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • If India decides to limit rice exports due to concerns about domestic food insecurity, that will in turn increase global rice prices.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
  • If a community decides the potential benefits of such a project (jobs and reduced taxes, for example) outweigh its costs, the municipality should be able to move forward.
    — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The home team secures the victory when Phil Mickelson knocks one in the water at the par-3 16th hole, conceding his match to Francesco Molinari right on the tee box.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • In other words, filing now secures your claim before the deadline.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Reduce Watering Ohler suggests giving a deep watering before the ground freezes.
    — Jane Kim, The Spruce, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The salt coolant used in these systems freezes at roughly 932 degrees Fahrenheit (500 degrees Celsius).
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster